Is Turkish Democracy really at Risk?

The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is the top rival against the president Erdoğan who has been running Turkey for 22 years. Among the presidential candidates of the largest opposition party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ekrem Imamoglu seems to be the most powerful rival against Erdogan. He defeated Erdogan’s party twice at the 2019 Istanbul Mayoral elections. This provided Imamoglu with a strong political image against the AKP.

On 18th of March, Imamoglu’s diploma was annulled by the Istanbul University with an illegitimate decision as it was officially accepted Imamoglu to transfer from Girne American University according to 1990s law. According to Turkish law, one cannot be a candidate for presidential elections without an accredited undergraduate diploma. Timing clearly suggests that it includes political aims as the ruling party is trying to do upcoming elections without Imamoglu. 

On the 19th of March, Turkish police surrounded Imamoglu’s house at 6 A.M. On the same day, 105 people were arrested due to the allegations of illegal conduct by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The government restricted social media and some of the metro routes in order to provide ‘public safety’. The regime is trying to maintain its legitimacy with restrictions. The timing of the arrest is ironic as on 23rd of March, the CHP planned to do an internal election in order to select Imamoglu as its presidential candidate for upcoming elections. 

With the arrests of the members of top rival parties, the government does not want to leave the upcoming elections to chance. They, therefore, use the power of the president as he is the president of an autocratic government by restricting any opposition comments. This clearly indicates that the ruling party is aware of the rising political power of CHP. However, they forget that the Republic of Turkey was ruled, and will be ruled by democracy.